Severe hypovitaminosis D is widespread and more common in non-diabetics than diabetics in Saudi adults

To compare the incidence of hypovitaminosis D in subjects, with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM], and determine its association to various risk factors. Three hundred and forty-one [177 non-diabetic, and 164 T2DM] Saudi adults were included in this cross-sectional study conducted at the Biomarkers Research Program [BRP] of King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from March to August 2009. Anthropometrics and fasting blood samples were obtained. Fasting glucose [FG] and lipid profiles were determined. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25[OH]D] and parathyroid hormone [PTH] were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Severe hypovitaminosis D was defined as serum 25[OH]D with levels <12.5 nmol/l. Age was the most significant predictor of 25[OH]D in both groups, explaining 25% [p=0.0005] and 16% of variances [p=0.0005]. Waist-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure and body mass index were significant predictors of 25[OH]D among non-diabetics after age adjustment, explaining 21% of variance perceived [p=0.039]. Serum PTH levels were higher in non-diabetic men and women. Severe hypovitaminosis D is prevalent in both non-diabetic and diabetic Saudis, but was more common in the young and middle-aged non-diabetics. The study further underscores the need for vitamin D fortification of the Saudi diet, and the promotion of vitamin D supplementation in both groups

Molecular basic of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women and represents the second leading cause of cancer death among women after lung cancer. A common phenotypic abnormality of breast cancer cells is dysregulation of cell cycle control. The transformation of normal cell to a cancer cell appears to depend on mutation in genes that normally control cell cycle progression, thus leading to loss of the regulatory cell growth. We summarize here the molecular regulation of mammary carcinoma with regards to the most prominent oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes and their outcome in terms of cellular prognosis, and tumor development

Ultrastructural changes of pneumocytes of rat exposed to arabian incense [Bakhour]

Impacts of air pollution on the human health have been recognized over the last decades. Smokes, in particular, have deleterious effects on the respiratory system. According to a local tradition, incense "Bakhour" is burnt and the resultant heavy smokes are inhaled. The objective of the present study is to investigate the ultrastructural pulmonary changes which can be induced by Arabian incense, Bakhour, exposure. The study was conducted from September through to December 2003, at the Animal House, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Two groups of Wister albino rats, Rattus norvegicus, were used. One group [n=16] was exposed to 420 grams of Bakhour for 14-weeks at the rate of 4 grams/day in the exposure chamber. Additional group of rats, of equal number, was used as non-exposed control. At the end of the exposure period, lung tissues were removed from all experimental animals and processed for electron microscopy. Alveolar pneumocytes of exposed animals revealed significant ultrastructural changes which involved the cell organelles and surfactant material of type II cells. Hyperplasia of alveolar cells was a feature in the affected lung tissue. Neutrophils were recognized infiltrating pulmonary alveoli and accompanied with degenerative and necrotic changes of the alveolar cells. Deposition of collagen fibrils in the alveolar walls was also observed. Basing upon the results of electron microscopy, it was concluded that exposure to Bakhour can induce ultrastructural pulmonary changes which may imply compromised respiratory efficiency

Potential regulation of PTH/PTHrP receptor expression in choriocarcinoma cells

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide [PTHrP] have been found to be expressed in a variety of human tumors. Parathyroid hormone-related peptide is known as the major mediator of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, may also regulate placental calcium flux, uterine contraction and fetal tissue development. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the expression of PTH/PTHrP receptor in choriocarcinoma JAR cell line. This study was carried out at the Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between November 2002 and August 2003. Choriocarcinoma JAR cell line treated for 12 and 72 hours with epidermal growth factor, [EGF] [20ng/ml], estradiol, E2 [10-8 M], dexamethasone, [DEX] [10-8 M] or 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol, 1,25 [DHCC] [10-8 M]. We investigated the expression of parathyroid hormone [PTH]/PTHrP receptor in JAR cell line with these treatments compared with untreated JAR cells. The PTH/PTHrP receptor expression were detected with 3.3nM 125I-PTHrP-34Tyrosine. The expression of the receptors at 12 hours were increased following exposure to EGF, E2 or DEX, whereas 1,25 DHCC inhibited the receptor expression. In further experiments at 72 hours with the same treatments, the receptors expression were remarkably increased with EGF, E2 or DEX, whereas, 1,25 DHCC inhibited the receptor expression in these cells. These data suggested that in JAR cells, The EGF, E2 and DEX upregulated the PTH/PTHrP receptor expression, whereas the 1,25 DHCC down-regulated the PTH/PTHrP receptor, and the 1,25 DHCC may play an important role as antiproliferative drug for choriocarcinoma